Box spring assembly



R. GOODMAN BOX SPRING ASSEMBLY A ril 13, 1965 INVENTOR. ROBERT GOODMAN ATTORZEY Filed Feb. 5, 196-3 United States Patent 7 3,177,504 BOX SPRING ASSEMBLY Robert Goodman, 5325 Westminster Ave,

Philadelphia 31, Pa; Filed Feb. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 255,523 4--Claims. (GI. 5-230) This inventionrelates. to box spring assemblies for beds, sofas and the like,-and particularly to assemblies of this type wherethespring-provides aconstant flexible support for-a load regardlessof the weight or position of the load thereon. This application is acontinuation-in-part of copending application Serial No. 177,784, filed March 6, l962,1n'ow Patent No. 3,119,126.

As disclosed in the aforementioned co-pending applicationfheretbforethe box springs included a series of verticalcoil springs situatedbetween the upper and lower deckandflexibly supporting the upper deck consisting of a cross-wire network. These supporting. coil springs tended to become distorted in certain areas due to constant positioning of the loadinsuch areas, so that the desired resilience andflexible support was largely lost in such areas. In addition, these coil springs being of constant strength and flexibility, would not give the same support to varying loads.

The aforesaid disadvantages of the prior art were overcome by the construction disclosed in said co-pending I application whereby'a series of pivotal arms are substituted for the vertical coil springs, these-pivotal arms being arranged in pairs of oppositely-swinging arms. When a load is placed on any portion of the upper deck, and regardless of its-weight, the force of the weight is transmitted equally to the oppositely-pivoted arms which then swing down equally an amount sufiicient to counterbalance the weight of the load.

Inorder to eliminate any tendency for the upper deck to sag in the middle because of the unequal distribution of weight in a persons body as between the heavier torso g were used so that the spaces between them were too small to permit sagging, there would be so many of these springs that they would tend to rigidify the assembly and so defeat its primary purpose of resiliency. In addition, since these springs were connected to the pivoted arms, the

I tension thereon would constantly alternate in conjunction with the movement of the arms so that spring fatigue would occur in a relatively short time.

, It is one object of the present invention to retain all the advantages inherent in the construction disclosed in said co-pending application while eliminating the disadvantages thereof by providing spring support units which fully prevent sagging of all parts of the upper deck and 1 which are not subject to undue stresses and strains with consequent spring fatigue.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a box spring assembly of the aforesaid type which is sturdy, relatively simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detaileddescription when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of-a boxzspring assembly embodying the present invention, the fabric cover portion being similar to that disclosed in said copending. application but being omitted here for purpose of clarity.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled device of FIG. 1, with the cover again omitted for clarity.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view of an edge por:

tion of the assembly of FIGS. land 2', with the cover in position.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings wherein; similar reference characters refer to'similar.parts,.there is.

shown a box spring assembly, generally designated 10, comprising an upper deck 12 and a lower deck 14. The

upper deck 12, similarly to that disclosed in said co-pend-- ing application, comprises a generally rectangular, tubular frame 16 having rounded corners 18 and constructedof generally flexible material such as spring. metal or the like. Stretched between the ends and sides of the frame 16 is a cross-wire or lattice network 18 wherein the cross-wires are attached to-their respective side or end sections of the is shown constructed of wood, but metal or any other desirable'material may be used and is sometimeseven prefera-ble.

Extending across the frame ZZ are a plurality of spaced, parallel cross-bars 26, preferably of angle-iron, which are secured at their ends to the respective side sections of the frame 22 by any meansdesired. Pivotally connected to the vertical portionof-each cross-bar 26, as at 28, are a pair of arms 30, the arms ofeachpair being. laterally spaced from each other and extending diagonally upward and outward-in opposite directions from each other.. 'At

its upper end, each arm 30=is provided with an offsetportion 32 which engages within a correspondingslot in the corresponding side of the framelfi; Each arm .3tl'is also provided atits lower end with an offset stop member 34 adapted to abut the'horizontal portionof the corresponding cross-bar to limit pivotal movement of the respective arm.

An additional pair of' pivotallarms 36areiprovided,

one at each end of the assembly,- each arm 36 being pivoted at-38 to a bracket 40 extendingperpendicularly.from;the. corresponding end cross-bar 26. Each'arm 36 is provided with'an offset- -upper=end portion' 42 connected to, the'endss of the frame 16 in a manner similar to the attachmentfof' the portions 32 of the arms 30 to their respective frame sides. The arms 30 act in the manner described in said copending application wherein, with no load on the upper deck, the springs at the sides of the upper deck exert a force in equilibrium with the force of gravity acting to pivot the arms downwardly. Similarly, the arms 36 at the ends of the assembly are in equilibrium with the springs 20 at the ends of the upper deck. When a load is placed on any part of the upper deck, the force is transmitted to all the arms 3t) and 36 equally whereby these arms spread to uniformly compensate for the load.

Although the arms 30 and 36 compensate for the load both laterally and longitudinally, the problem of sag of the cross-wire network of the upper deck, as described in the said co-pending application, would still exist. This problem is eliminated by a pair of spring rods 44 which are slightly arched throughout their major length but are shifts position, the cover 50 also, shifts its position.

/ The invention claimed is: i

bolts, screws or the like, to corresponding endrcross-b'ars I '26. In the formshown, the spring rods 44 are positioned betweenthe opposite. arms 30 1 of aeach;.pair and the ends of the spring rods are connected by rivets 46 to the respective cross-bars, ,7 The central portions of the spring' rods 44 are connected to the cross-wire. network ofthe a I a I ing sufiicient flexibility to permitexpansion of the frame upper deck by tie wires '48 (as'shown inF IG. 2). i

. By the above construction, thespring rods 44 provide a flexible support for the upper deck throughout the, length thereof while, at the same time, a minimum area of contact is established so that there is no resulting over-support and consequentfundesirable rigidity. These spring rods 44, beingindependent of the pivotal arms 30 and 36,'are' also free from unduestress which mightre sult from constantflexing and-unflexing inconjunction withthepivotal movement of these arms. Z e

, Anenveloping cover 50, such as said'parent application Serial No. 177,784, may be'pro vided. This cover, as explained in the'said parent applica tion, is connected to the inner framework only at thebottom of the lower deck 14 so that, as the upper deck 12 Obviously many modificationsand variations of the present invention are possible in the, light of the .above teachings. It is, thereforeyt'ojhe understoodthat within] the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than asspecifically described.

v 1. A box spring assembly comprising an upper generally rectangular deck, a lower, generally rectangular deck and supporting means between the upperand lowerdecks, said upper deck comprising. a frame having ,sufiicientf flexibility topermit' expansion of the; 'frameunder-Ihe force of a .load but being sufiiciently rigid to be moved i bodily by said force, said frame having a spring-tensioned cross-wire networkQextending thereacross, and said sup-7. porting means comprising at least one pair of arms individually'p'ivoted to said lower deckandbeinglaterally spaced from each other, said arms extending upward and outward from their respective pivot points in opposite 'di-' rections relative to each other and being fixed to. oppositeportions of the frame of said upper deck, and aplu'rality of laterally spaced spring rods extendinglongitudinally of, said assembly,.said spring ,rod's;being connected; at-

their endsto said'lower deck and having upwardl'yvarched f central portions bearing 'upon'said 'upper deck,,said sup porting means'con'sisting ofsaid arms andsaid, spring rods;' V and said upper'deck being supported solely by saidsupporting means.

2. Theassembly of claim 1 'wliereiiithere:are'atleast: two pairs of arms, ,the arms of, one'pair'of' armsbeing; spaced from each other'transve'rsely, of the longitudinal ex tent of said assembly and,;the. arms of lanotheripairgof arms being spac assembly.

described in the aforeeach pair'being rigidly connected toacorrespondingp,ortion of the frame of thezupper deck, each arm havingan 'of spaced, parallel cross-barsextendingthereacross, eachv '15 of said cross-bars being 'an angle-bar having a vertical 7 3. Theassembly of claim 1 whereina flexible cover envelops said upper deck and said supporting means, said cover being attached tojsaid lower deck and being dist tortabl under the'lforce ofia load but being sufficiently rigid to be I moved bodily by said force, said frame having a springtensioned cross-wire 7 network extending thereacross, said lower deck comprising a rigid frame having a-plurality' web and a horizontal web, a' pair of arms'individually pivoted to the verticalwebtof each cross-bar, the arms offeach pair beingtspaced. froimeach other at their pivot points and extending v up wa'rdly and outwardly from their pivot'points 'in opposite angular directions,vthe armskof the horizontal webs of their corresponding cross-barsat predetermined positions of their respective arms, an addiangularly upward and outward" in opposite directions; and in a plane transverselto thetlongitudinal extent of the 1 tionalpair of arms,"one of said additional'arms being pivotally, connected to one endrnost cross-bar-andthe other ofsaid additionalzarms being pivotally connected to the other endmostcross-bansaid additional arms extending angle bars, said additional arms beinglrigidly,connected tocorresponding portionstof said framevof the upper deck,

7 spring 'rods bearingiagainst-the cross-wire network of said and apair' of laterally spaced,parallel;upwardly-bowed I spring rods connected at theiropposite ends tosaid lower deck and extending transversely ofsaid tangle bars, said 7 upper deck, said supporting means'consisting of said arms,

ed from each other' longitudinally of said JVFRANIK 'B,{; SHERRY,: Prinrjqiy a ma, I

said additional arms and said spring rods, and said upper deck being supported solelybysaid supporting means; j I

" v Re ferences Cited the I 5 UNITED STATES PATisrrrs ,Jv

8/89'"Great Britain. ;361,000 3/96 France; f {782,792 3/35 France, 5 39,953j 8/55 Belgium 

1. A BOX SPRING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING AN UPPER GENERALLY RECTANGULAR DECK, A LOWER GENERALLY RECTANGULAR DECK AND SUPPORTING MEANS BETWEEN THE UPPER AND LOWER DECKS, SAID UPPER DECK COMPRISING A FRAME HAVING SUFFICIENT FLEXIBILITY TO PERMIT EXPANSION OF THE FRAME UNDER THE FORCE OF A LOAD BUT BEING SUFFICIENTLY RIGID TO BE MOVED BODILY BY SAID FORCE, SAID FRAME HAVING A SPRING-TENSIONED CROSS-WIRE NETWORK EXTENDING THEREACROSS, AND SAID SUPPORTING MEANS COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE PAIR OF ARMS INDIVIDUALLY PIVOTED TO SAID LOWER DECK AND BEING LATERALLY SPACED FROM EACH OTHER, SAID ARMS EXTENDING UPWARD AND OUTWARD FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE PIVOT POINTS IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER AND BEING FIXED TO OPPOSITE PORTIONS OF THE FRAME OF SAID UPPER DECK, AND A PLURALITY OF LATERALLY-SPACED SPRING RODS BEING CONNECTED AT OF SAID ASSEMBLY, SAID SPRING RODS BEING CONNECTED AT THEIR ENDS TO SAID LOWER DECK AND HAIVNG UPWARDLY ARCHED CENTRAL PORTIONS BEARING UPON SAID UPPER DECK, SAID SUPPORTING MEANS CONSISTING OF SAID ARMS AND SAID SPRING RODS, AND SAID UPPER DECK BEING SUPPORTED SOLEDLY BY SAID SUPPORTING MEANS. 